Manchester’s name originates from its roman name Mamucium, Mamucium was a roman fort built in AD79, before the roman’s arrived there was a large Celtic tribal stronghold on the area now home to Manchester Cathedral.

Manchester has seen a permanent settle since the Roman’s arrival in AD79, in 1066 with the Norman Conquest much of Manchester settled between the rivers of irk and Irwell.

Manchester cathedral was built in 1421 by the lord of the manor Thomas de la warre, originally it was a collegiate church built for the local parish, and the church was expanded over the following 500 plus years finally becoming a cathedral in 1847.

In the 16th century Manchester became a world leader in the manufacturer and trade of linen and woollen goods this was due in part to an influx of Belgian weavers laying the foundations of the industry in the 14th century.

During the 17th century English revolution civil war Manchester was a parliamentary stronghold, it was during this period that Oliver Cromwell England’s lord protector appointed the hard puritan Charles Worsley as MP and later Major general of Lancashire, Worsley closed all the ale houses and even banned the Christmas celebrations.

During the industrial revolution Manchester’s textile industry boomed making it the largest cotton goods marketplace in the world, in 1894 the Manchester ship canal was opened providing Manchester with a means to send it textile goods directly to the far corners of the world.

Like London Manchester was bombed extensively by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.